Grand Slam champions in tennis

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Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal advanced to the U.S. Open final in 2010 without dropping a single set, becoming just the eighth man to reach the final of all four majors in the Open era -- and, at 24, the second youngest to do so. By beating Novak Djokovic 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 in the championship match, Nadal completed both a career Grand Slam and Golden Slam. His U.S. Open championship marked his ninth major title, as he previously has won at the French Open in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010, at Wimbledon in 2008 and 2010 and at the Australian Open in 2009.

Roger Federer

After losing in the French Open finals each of the previous three years, Roger Federer finally won the title in 2009. Not only was it his 14th major title, tying him with Pete Sampras for the all-time record, but it also gave Federer a career Grand Slam. In addition to winning the Australian Open four times (2004, 2006, 2007, 2010), the French Open once (2009), Wimbledon six times (2003-2007, 2009) and the U.S. Open five times (2004-2008), Federer reached at least the semifinals of 23 consecutive Grand Slam semifinals.

Serena Williams

The most recent addition to the class of players with career Grand Slams, Serena Williams joined their ranks with an Australian Open victory in 2003. The only player still competing with wins in all four majors, Williams has four Australian Open singles titles, one at the French Open, two at Wimbledon and three at the U.S. Open. She also has eight women's doubles major titles and four mixed doubles titles at Slams. Beginning with the 2002 French Open and ending with the 2003 Australian Open, Williams won four consecutive Grand Slam titles, a feat referred to as the "Serena Slam."

Andre Agassi

When Andre Agassi won the French Open singles title in 1999, the victory gave him a career Golden Slam. He had already won Wimbledon (in 1992), the U.S. Open (in 1994), the Australian Open (in 1995) and an Olympic gold (in 1996). Agassi later added four more major championships to his legacy. Until Roger Federer won his French Open title, Agassi was the only men's player to win major titles on at least three different surfaces.

Steffi Graf

Not content with a mere calendar-year Grand Slam, Steffi Graf earned a unique Golden Slam in 1988 by winning all four major singles titles and an Olympic gold in Seoul. In Australia, Graf didn't lost a single set. In Paris, she cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 victory in just 32 minutes in the finals. Wimbledon and the U.S. Open proved to be a little more challenging, but she won both in three-set finals. Graf is also the only player to have won all of the majors at least four times.

Martina Navratilova

When Martina Navratilova won the U.S. Open for the first of four times in 1983, she added her name to the impressive list of players with career Grand Slams. Navratilova retired with a 1,442-219 singles record, 18 Grand Slam singles titles, 31 Grand Slam men's doubles titles and 10 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles.

Chris Evert

In 56 Grand Slam appearances, only twice did Chris Evert fail to make it to at least the quarterfinals in the singles draw. She had at least two titles at each of the Grand Slam events when she retired in 1989, winning the French Open in 1974, 1975, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985 and 1986, Wimbledon in 1974, 1976 and 1981, the U.S. Open in 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980 and 1982 and the Australian Open in 1982 and 1984.

Billie Jean King

Although Billie Jean King had won six Grand Slam titles by the end of the 1971 season, she could not claim a career Grand Slam to her credit. That changed in 1972, when she won the French Open for the first and only time. King finished her career with 12 Grand Slam singles titles, 16 women's doubles titles and 11 mixed doubles titles.

Don Budge

The first player ever to achieve a calendar-year Grand Slam, Don Budge lost just one set in the finals en route to winning the Australian, French, Wimbledon and U.S. Championships in 1938. The American had won both Wimbledon and the U.S. Championships the previous season as well. Budge turned professional after achieving the impressive title feat.

Rod Laver

As an amateur in 1962, Rod Laver won all four Grand Slam singles titles in addition to 17 other singles titles. While he was rarely challenged in three of the majors -- losing just one set at Wimbledon and two sets at the U.S. Championships -- he had a tough time at the French Championships. Laver had to win three consecutive five-setters in France to take the title.

Rod Laver

After becoming a professional at the end of 1962, Rod Laver was barred from the Grand Slam events until the start of the Open era in 1968. The following year, Laver repeated his calendar-year Grand Slam achievement. The Australian compiled a 106-16 win-loss record in 1969.

Maureen Connolly

In 1953, Maureen Connolly (nicknamed Little Mo) entered all four Grand Slam tournaments for the first time in her career. The move paid off, as she won the singles title at each event and became the first female tennis player to earn a calendar-year Grand Slam. Connolly lost just one set during that run.

Margaret Court

In addition to winning a record 24 Grand Slam singles titles and 62 Grand Slam titles overall, Margaret Court was the first woman to achieve a calendar-year Grand Slam in the Open era. In 1970, the Australian player cruised to straight-set victories in the Australian and French Opens. She then outlasted Billie Jean King in a 14-12, 11-9 thriller at Wimbledon before winning the U.S. Open in three sets. Court also has a career "boxed set" of Grand Slam titles, winning all four singles, women's doubles and mixed doubles titles at some point throughout her career.

Fred Perry

The first player ever to achieve a career Grand Slam, Fred Perry accomplished the feat at the age of 26. After winning his first U.S. Open title in 1933, Perry added titles at the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 1934. The following year, he finally broke through for a singles championship at the French Open. From 1934 to 1938, Perry was the No. 1-ranked player in the world. He finished his career with a singles record of 106-12 and eight Grand Slam singles titles.

Roy Emerson

Included in Roy Emerson's record 28 Grand Slam titles are career Grand Slams in both singles and doubles. The Australian's best tournament was the Australian Championships, which he won in 1961, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966 and 1967. He won singles titles twice at each of the other majors: U.S. Championships in 1961 and 1964, French Championships in 1963 and 1967, and Wimbledon in 1964 (giving him the career Grand Slam) and 1965.

Doris Hart

Two years after winning her first Grand Slam title (in women's doubles at Wimbledon), Doris Hart won the first of her six Grand Slam singles championships. That 1949 win was the only time she would take home the title at the Australian Championships. She later added French Championships victories in 1950 and 1952, a Wimbledon title in 1951 and completed the career Grand Slam with a U.S. Championships title in 1954. She successfully defended her title at that tournament the following year.

Shirley Fry

Throughout her tennis career, Shirley Fry won every Grand Slam singles and women's doubles title at least once. After earning her first Grand Slam victory in 1951 at the French Championships, Fry won Wimbledon and the U.S. Championships in 1956 and the Australian Championships in 1957. Following that achievement, she never again played in a Grand Slam event.